Method of and apparatus for activating labels



Oct. 7, 1952 G, W, VON HOFE 2,613,007

METHOD OF' AND APPARATUS FOR ACTIVATING LABELS Filed Jan. 18, 1950 wwf if LLA TTV.

Petenta oef. 1, i952 UNITED STATES tn New wiiereiii uie'vi tiiereeil ieieiiilveiil e trolling a waive 3B provlided ion La :pipe Macommunicating "with Aa source of `hot air or steam. Connected-to pipe-Mis a'nozzle14l arrangedito direct thehot-airor steam passing through valve 3B `upon a label carried by drum B. The formationlof -nozzlel'lis such that the hot blast of air orstearndelivered thereby will progressivelyand entirely `subject an area of thedrum `B 'on `which af label is mounted, to '-heat `for a predetermined period of time during the rotational movement of thefdrum.` The period of time `that the hot air blast for =steam is directed against fa label 'mountedlonfthe 'drumfisfcontrolledlbythe length of time that the roller 3B is'in engagement with la portion offthe cam *Mintermediatethe raisedportio'ns 35 thereof.` When the `roller 35'comes linto engagemerit with the outer `edgefof a raised portion 35 of thecamfthe `linl: mechanism 3B will operate valvef39`to-cut off the flow of hot air or steam to the nozzle 4i on pipe l0, and =Wlll maintain such `valve shut during rtheperiod of engagement of roller 36 with such outer Aedge-of `raised cam por- -tion 35. l

- In the `event the machine shutsdown, thevalv may bemanually manipulated to` shut yoff the hot air-or `st'earn or-an interlock `may beprovided for 'such purpose. As is shown in'Fig. 2 ofthe drawings, `such an linterlock'may be composed of anar-m 45 fixed toarm 31 so as `-to rotate therewithyas `the 'roller 36 moves along the cam '34. The outer end of arm 45 is positionedadjacent to the outer end'of `a lever 46 whenthe `cam roller 36 is engaging'a portion of the cam intermediate the `raised portions 35 of such cam, and moves in `a `rrloclrwise direction, `as `viewed in Fig. 2, away from lever 46 "as the roller 36 `travels up "a sucneeding raised portion 35. During the ltravel of the-roller l36 from 'the outer or high Aedge vof a raised portion 35 to a cam portion intermediate -suchraised portions, theouter end of arm 45'will 4rotate Aina counter-clockwise direction toa position adjacent to the outer end of lever `46 `(note Fig. 12), and 'will remain in such position while #the roller is in vengagement with lsuch intermediate portion. The vlever 451s mounted ona shaft #'41 `to `rotate in the same plane as arm -4'5 and is connected through such 'shaft to "suitable clutch mechanism (not shown) Aarranged and constructed to rotate-shafi'ffl andconsequently lever 451m -a` counter-clockwise'direction `as lindicated by the arrow'w-hen the `machine is shut down. "Ihe amount of rcounter-ciockwse rotation of lever46 is such that whether roller 36,at the time Vof such shutdown, -is 'in engagement `with Aeither 4a raised o'r "intermediate-portion -of cam 34, the outer end Aof 'lever 46 will `engage arm 45 and rotate the latter in -a clockwise direction as to move the roller 436 -outwardly beyond the outer or `high edgesof vthe raised` portions 35 of cam 34, and thereby operating valve 39 to `prevent the passage of hot-air or steam "through the nozzle 4l.

In order to immediatelycoola label `which has Abeen subjected to ablast of 4hot `air or steam, cool air is blown against it soon after such label has :moved past the nozzle 4l in "the Arotativeimovement `of the drum '13. The lcoolair is directed against the label byfa'lnozzlel located approxi-` mately the length of aiabel -in advance of nozzle -4`I and connected `to `a 1source of continuous cool air-supply.

l From the foregoing, itwil-l be understood that *the `pick-up cylinder `IHl of `the label transfer mechanism engages nindividual rlabels from the lstack Gand transfers them in rapidsuccession to rdrumB. -As each =labe`l -is delivered to drum B,

itis abutted ilrmlyfagainstfoxiemf thepositioning ribs 3| and is "retained in :this 'position nnfthe causing lthe latter to actuate '.thewalve `control mechanism ito :openvalve 395. Uponvthe `opening of valve 39, a'blast `of ,hotfair''or steam fhav'ingfa temperature of approximately 1450 degrees is delivered by nozzle 4l `upon .the label. Thetarrangement and construction 'of the mechanismL-is irs `nozzle 4l. blast, the adhesive .coating 1:4 of thelabellissubsuch that .the hot fair Ablast nor :steam is directed against the peripheryof drum B justapriorto the passage of lthe'label .through thearea :covered-:by such blast. As the label passes 4into such area, the protective rib `or rguardyl will `prevent the leading edge of the labelzfrom being-picked lupl'by the blast. `As thellabel passesthroughthisarea of hightemperature air `or steam, the thermoplastic adhesive coating I4 thereof, will become, `advl'iesively actvatedin aprogressive uniform. man-` ner. 4After the label `.passes throughthe region of hot air or steam, it is subjected `to acooling :blast ofair from the succeeding rcnl'dzairinozzle "481. The activated label is then applied .iat station .Altman varticle passing thereby :in `the manner previously described.

It will thus be seen'that in accordancewith th present invention, the `laminatedsheets rorl'abels are fed from stack C tothe labelapplyingstation A by means of a cylinder 3U which is `at room temperature land drum B whichis maintained at room temperature for slightly cooler, .due to rthe cooling liquid .circulating therethrough. Thus.

'body results from such handling of thelabel.` The lapplication of the hot air or steam blast, whileit would tend to distort the label and even ydestroy the inks and varnishes` on the label if the latter `were subjected to it for any appreciable length `of time, is only eiective on each portion :of `the adhesive coating I4 just long-enough to activate -each such portion. Thehot air-or steam 4blast is in effect moved over the adhesive coating I4 of the label in a sweeping manner so that it :affects vonly such coating and does not substantially penetrate to the underlying "layers `of the `label. When steam is used, especially in thelcase oflaminated foil labels, sufcient'moisture is 'introduced `into the paper of the label to cause the latter to expand to an extent as to -minimizestressesin the label as has been explained. The amount 4of moisture introduced into the labelcan be controlled by controlling the composition of lthe steam and its supply through `the `valve 39 and Almost immediately after such hot jected to the cooling air blast frominozzle Bto reduceV it to roomv temperature and so that the heat in such coating is not substantially transferred to the laminated body of the label, thereby avoiding possibility of distortion of the label upon its release at the label applying station A. The minor portion of heat that may reach the body of the label from its heated adhesive coating I4 prior to the cooling blast, is not great enough to create suicient stresses therein to overcome the force exerted by the vacuum holding the sheet against the cylinder Wall. These stresses however, are of suicient magnitude to distort a freely supported label or sheetof laminated material. cordingly, it is importantY that the entire laminated body and adhesive coating of the label be brought to room temperature prior to the release of the label from drum B. Even though the adhesive coating-i4 of the label is cooled to room temperature prior to its complete attachment to the article by the belt 25 and rail 26, it will remain usefully adhesive until such means completes its attachment to the article.

While I have herein described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications andchanges may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, a radiant heating means capable of producing directed heat Waves within a predetermined area may be substituted for nozzle 4l. In such construction, the valve 39 will be replaced by suitable switch means operable under the control of the previously described members 34, 35, 36, 31 and 38. It will thus be understood that I intend to include Within the scope of the invention, al1 embodiments of the invention coming within the terms of the appended claims,

I claim:

1. In a labeling machine, a support for a Source of supply of labels coated with thermo-activatable adhesive, means spaced from said source for supporting articles to be labeled, means for successively feeding individual labels from said source and applying such articles at said spaced supporting means, and means intermediate said source and support to apply directly against the thermo-activatable adhesive coatings on said labels in controlled amounts a directed, aeriform stream of heat.

2. In a labeling machine, a support for a source of supply of labels coated with thermo-activatable adhesive, means spaced from said source for supporting articles to be labeled, means for successively feeding individual labels from said source and applying such labels to articles at said spaced supporting means, means intermediate said source and support to apply heat directly to the thermo-activatable adhesive coatings on said labels, and means for maintaining the other surfaces of said labels cool during application of such heat.

3. In a labeling machine, a support for a source of supply of labels coated with thermo-activatable adhesive,means spaced from said source for supporting articles to be labeled, means comprising a movable label carrying surface for successively feeding labels from said source and applying such labels to articles at said spaced supporting means, means intermediate said source and support to apply heat directly to the thermoactivatable adhesive coatings on said labels, and means for maintaining such label carrying surface at a temperature not greater than room temperature in its travel through the region of -such applied heat.

4. The combination of a support fora source of supply of sheet material coated Withthermoactivatable adhesive material, means for feeding such sheet material from said source to a point spaced from the latter, means for progressively applying heat directly to the thermo-activatable adhesive coating on said sheet material and means for cooling said activated sheet material toroom temperature prior to the delivery thereof to said point.

5. In a labeling machine, means to support a supply of labels coated with thermo-activatable adhesive material at room temperature, vmeans to feed labels from said supply and into engagement with a carrier at room temperature, means to heat the thermo-activatable adhesive coatings on said labels to activating temperature, means to cool said labels to room temperature prior .to their removal from said rcarrier, and means to remove said labels from the carrier.

6. Ina labeling machine, a support for a sourceof supply of labels coated with thermoactivatable adhesive, means spaced from said source for supporting articles to be labeled, means for feeding labels from said source and applying such labels to articles at said spaced supporting means, means intermediate said source and support to vblow a blast ofhot gas against a label carried by said feeding means, and means to protect the leading edge of the label from the lifting eiect of said blast, Y Y. i

'7. The combination of a sheet carrying member, means to feed a sheet coated with thermoactivatable adhesive material to said carrying member, means to constrain said sheet on said carrying member, and means for successively heating the coating on said sheet and cooling said Lsheet while the latter is in a constrained condi- 8. The combination of a support for a source of supply of sheet material coated with thermoactivatable adhesive material, means for carrying such sheet material from said source to a point spaced from the latter, means for maintaining said carrying means at a, temperature not greater than room temperature, means for directing heat upon the adhesive coating of said sheet material and means for directing a blast of cool gas upon the activated coating of such sheet material.

9..The combination of a support for a source of supply of sheet material coated with thermoactivatable adhesive material, means for carrymg such sheet material from said source to -a polnt spacedfrom the latter, means for directing heat upon the adhesive coating of said sheet material and means controlled by said carrying means for controlling said heat directing means.

10. The combination of a support for a source of supply of sheet material coated with thermoactivatable adhesive material, means for carrying such sheet material from said source to a point spaced from the latter, means for directing heat upon the adhesive coating of said sheet material during the travel of the latter from said source to sald point, means intermediate said carrying means and said heat directing means for con- Ytrolling the latter, and means for cooling the heated portions of said sheet.

1.1. The combination defined in claim 10, in Whlch said heat directing means is constructed and arranged to introduce moisture into the paper of said sheet material simultaneously with the application of heat thereto.

12. The combination deiined in claim 10, in which said heat directing means includes mecha- 9 nism for directing alb-,last of hot steamsontof said sheet material.. l l

13. The combination defined in claimA 10I in Whichfsaidcontrolling means includes acam associated-With; said carrying means, a cam member coacting with said cam, a control device for saidheat directing means, andV means controlledY by said cam member for controlling said control device.

. `14a-The combination of asupport for asource of supply of sheet material` coated with thermoactivatable adhesive material, means for carrying such sheet material from said source to` apoint spaced from the latter, intermittently operating` means-for directing heat upon the adhesive coating of said sheet material during the` travel of the latter from said source to said point, and means for controlling the intermittent operation of said' heat directing means.

. 15. The combination defined inA claimv 14, including means forrendering said heat directing means and said: control means in operative, whereby the intermittent application of heat to said sheet material is stopped.`

16. The method of applying to an article-a label having a i'lherrnc-activatableV adhesive surface which comprises maintaining the label in contact with a cooled surface While progressively applying heat directlyto the thermo-activatable adhesive surface thereof, cooling said heated surface andv then pressing the adhesively activated surface of the label directly against the article.

17. The method `of applying to an` article a label having a thermo-activatable adhesive surface which comprises maintaining the label in contact with a cooled surface and progressivelyand simultaneously applying heat `and moisture directly against the thermo-activatable adhesive surface thereof, cooling' said heated surface, and then pressing. the adhesively activated surface-off the label directly againstV the article.

18. The combination of a support for a source of supply of sheetfmaterial coatedwith thermoactivatable adhesive material, meansfor carrying such sheet material from said source to a point spaced from the latter, means for directing heat upon the adhesive coating of said sheet material duringthe travel of the latter from said source to said point, and means operable to render said heat directing means inoperative to direct heat upon the adhesive coatings of said sheet material when the movement of said sheet carrying means is arrested.

19. The combination of a support for a source of supply of sheet material coated with thermoactivatable adhesive material, means for carrying a series of such sheets in spaced relation from said source to a point spaced from the latter, means for directing heat upon the adhesive coatings of said sheets during the travel of the latter from said source to said point, and means controlling said heat directing means and operative to discontinue the oW of heat therefrom against the exposed portions of said carrier between such spaced sheets.

20. The combination of a support for a source of supply of sheet material coated with thermoactivatable adhesive material, means for carrying such sheet material from said source to a point spaced from the latter, and means intermediate said source and said point for progressively applying to the thermo-activatable adhesive on said sheet material, while the latter is being transported by said carrier, a directed, aeriform stream of heat having a cross-sectional area lessfthan :the surface. areaof such sheet material.`

l2-1. 'Ilhecombi-nationoi a support for' asource of supply of sheetmaterial coated with-thermo,- activatable adhesive material, a carrier` forI carry-5 ing separate sheets inA spaced relation from said' sourceA to a point spaced*1 from the` latter,i means intermediate said source and said point for pro.r gressively applying tothethermo-activatable adihesive on-said sheets, While thel latter are-being@ transported by saidzcarrier-,a directed, aerifform. stream ofv heat hav-ing` across-sectionalarea-less than the surface area ofoneof` said-sheets.. andf means controlling said first-mentioned meansfanclr operative thereon tostop the streamof.` heaty therefrom after the adhesive coating on eachA sheet has beenheat-treated; andV to start the stream of-.heat therefroxnas each succeeding.-

sheetlenters the zone ofA heat treatment.l

v22.A In.v av labeling machina. a support `for a supply of labels coated with thermo-activatable adhesive material, means for carrying suchfl'abels in spaced relationafrom. said supportY to apoint spacedV from-the latter,I a pair of zones ottemperature treatment arrangedn in spaced relation along the path of `travel-of the spaced labels transported `by saidf carrying. means, means `at the first of saidzaonesd in thefdirection of. travel of` the labels for.` activating thethermo-activate.- ble adhesive material, asA suchA labels` successively pass through suchzone.- andl means at` thenext zone in the direction of travel ofI theA labels for cooling the labels as they successivelypass fromv said first zone -throughsaidwsecond zone.`

. 23. In a labeling machine, a` supportfor a supply of labels coated with thermo-activatable adhesive materiaL-means for carrying suchlabels in spaced relation from-.saidsupport'to la point spaced from the latter, a. pair of zones offrtem-` perature treatment arrangedA in spaced:` relation-alongthe path offtravelA of thespaced-labels transported by said ,carrying means,` means at the first' of saidl` zonesin the directionofr travel" ofthe labels for progressively applyingto the thermo-activatable adhesive` material on` said labels, While the lattergare successively passed therethrough, afdirected, aeriformstream-ofrv heat capable of activating sucht adhesive materialaand means-at the secondl zone in the direction of travel of?` the labels Afor,progressively;applying` toy such labelsawfhile .the4 latter successively pass from said first zone through saidsecond zone, a directed, aeriform stream capable of cooling such labels.

24. In a labeling machine, the combination of means capable of successively carrying labels in constrained condition thereon in their passage:

from a source of label supply in such machine to the articles to be labeled, means for progressively heating the thermo-activata-ble material on each label to activate the same While such label is being carried in its constrained condition by s said first mentioned means, and means for cooling each label immediately following the activation of the adhesive coating thereon and While such label is being carried in its constrained condition by said iirst mentioned means.

25. The combination of a support for a source of supply ofsheet material coated with thermoactivatable adhesive material, means for feeding such sheet material from `said source to a point spaced from the latter, and means between said source and said point for progressively applying against the thermo-activatable adhesive coating on said sheet material in the `feed of the latter to said point, a directed streamof moisture laden l1- hot"'gas having a cross-sectional area, less than theA 'surface area Iof suchlrsheet material, and means for controlling the roperation of said gas applying means.

26. In a labeling machine, means to support astack of labels, a member spaced from said label supporting means and having an exterior surface portion, means for supporting said member for rotatable movement in lone direction about an offset axis with the surface portion thereof moving in a path aboutsuch axis, means between said label supporting means and said member for removing a label from one end of said label stack and carrying the same to the exterior surface portion of said member, means for holding the transferred label in proper position on said member with the face side of such label in opposed relation to said exterior surface portion of Vsaid member and comprising a label engaging instrument provided at the advancing end of such surface portion in the rotational movement of said member, and means alongside the path of movement of said member for rendering adhe'sive the outwardly disposed back side of a label as suchV label is being carried by said member, said last lmentioned means being capable in its operation of disturbing the position of such label relative to said member, and said label engaging instrument being constructed and arranged to prevent the disturbance of the label from its proper position relative to said member by said last mentioned means.

27. In a labeling machine, means to support a stack of labels with the labels standing on edge in the stack, a member spaced from said label supporting means and having a vertically disposed exterior surface portion, means for supporting said member for rotatable movement in one direction about a vertical axis, means between said label supporting means and said member for removing a label from an adjacent end of said stack and carrying the same to the vertical sur- -I'ac'e portion of said member, means for holding the transferred label in proper position on said member with the face side of such label in opposed relation to f said surface portion and comprising a label engaging instrument provided at the advancing end of such surface portion in the rotational movement of said member, and

Ameans'alongside the path of movement of said member for rendering adhesive the outwardly disposed back side of a label carried by said member, said last mentioned means being capable in its operation of disturbing the position of such label relative to said member, and said label engaging instrument being constructed and arranged to prevent the disturbance of the label from its proper position relative to said member by said last mentioned means.

28. In a labeling machine, a rotatably mounted, unheated member adapted to transport a label from a place of label supply to a place of application to an article, means located adjacent to the path of feed of a label on said member between said places of supply and application for rendering adhesive the outer side of a label carried by said member, said means being capable in its operation on such label of disturbing the position of such label relative to said member, and label engaging means mounted on said member and constructed and arranged to be effective at the leading edge of a label being carried to said place of application to prevent the disturbance of the leading edge of the label from its proper position on said member by said adhesive rendering means.

29. In a labeling machine, a rotatably mounted, unheated member adapted to transport a label from a place of label supply to a place of application to an article, heating means mounted externally of said member between said places of supply and application, and capable of imposing a disturbing force on a label as the'latter supported by said member passes said heating means, and means mounted on said member and constructed and arranged to be effective at the leading edge of thelabel carried by said member to prevent the disturbing force from said heating means from disturbing the position of the leading edge of the label on said member.

GEORGE W. von HOFE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS l Number Name Date 2,339,055 Craig Jan. l1, 1944 2,449,298 Hoppe -l Sept. 14, 1948 

